Seven New Faces Join Lady Canes Hoops for 2008-09

The Georgia Southwestern Lady Hurricanes and head coach Kelly
Britsky announced the signing of seven incoming players for the
2008-09 basketball season.

"We are excited about this year's class of recruits," said
Britsky, heading into her second season as the Lady Canes head
coach. "They bring determination, desire and most of all they
all know what it takes to become winners. These recruits and
the strong returners we are bringing back will hopefully combine to
start a new era in women's basketball at Georgia
Southwestern. The Peach Belt Conference offers us one of the
most competitive schedules in the nation and we hope to compete at
a much higher level this season."

In this year's signing class, four players hail from the Peach
State while Alabama, Florida and Louisiana each are home to one.

Junior guard Clarissa "Shan" Corbett comes to GSW after playing
at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Alabama. She played in
30 games last season for the Lady Saints, averaging 14.8 points per
contest, hitting team-highs with 153 field goals, 22
three-pointers, 78 assists, 40 blocks and 87 steals.

"We are excited for ‘Shan' to come in this year," Britsky
said. "She is not afraid of hard work and knows how to fight
for the things she wants to accomplish. We will look for her
to play both the two position and point guard if needed.
Although she can be a quiet person, she will get some big things
done on the court."

Corbett, a native of Macon, Ga., was a member of the 2005 AAAA
state runner-up Westside High School team.

A 5-foot-10 forward transfer from Southwest Mississippi
Community College, junior Whitley Wiltz was a Mississippi
Association of Community and Junior Colleges All-Star in 2007-2008
while earning second team All-State honors.

"Whitley Wiltz was a steal for us," stated Britsky. "She
is a hard nosed competitor that will make a name for herself in the
Peach Belt. Determination and desire sum up how she plays on
court. She wants to win and knows how to win. She is
just the type of player we need pounding it out in the paint."

A transfer from Gulf Coast Community College (Fla.), Nadirah
Gardner was a member of the 2008 NJCAA National Championship
team. The 5-foot-7 sophomore point guard, played in 13 games
for the Commodores.

"We are excited to have Nadirah in our program," Britsky
said. "Even though injury limited some of her opportunities
last year on the court we know the potential she brings to this
program. Anytime you can get a player that knows how to win
and has been a member of championship teams both on the AAU and
junior college ranks it is a positive move. Nadirah is hungry
for playing time and to get back to her elite status. We
can't wait to see this happen."

Gardner was a 2004-2005 third team selection to the Florida
Sports Writers Association All-State Basketball Team while at
Tallahassee FAMU High School and made the HoopGurlz Top Recruits of
Florida Class of 2007.

Junior transfer Brandi Burris joins the Lady Canes after two
successful seasons at Northwest Shoals Community College
(Ala.). The 5-foot-9 guard averaged 12 points a game for the
Patriots while connecting on 29.2% of shots from beyond the arc and
71.2% from the foul line during her career. Brandi was an
All-State and All-Region team selection during her two years at
Northwest Shoals.

"Brandi is a strong pick up for us," Britsky said. "She
can do it all at the guard position, but we will probably
concentrate her efforts at the three position where she will bring
strength and size. Coming from Northwest Shoals she is not
stranger to hard work and she understands what her role will be
here at GSW. I look forward to watching what Brandi will do
for the Canes this year."

A 5-foot-5 guard, Terra Branch was a two-time All-Region
selection and a 2007-2008 Northeast Georgia Second Team selection.
A native of Athens, Ga. Branch averaged 15.3 points during her
senior campaign at Clark Central High School.

"Terra is a catch and a half for the Canes," said Britsky.
"She is a true scorer. She knows how to put the ball in the
basket and her potential in the league is huge. Terra comes
to us from a fantastic high school program so she, too, has winning
encoded in her brain. The next four years with this talent
young lady should be great."

Tiandra Billings, a 5-foot-6 guard from Perry, Ga., was Second
Team All-Region in 1-AAAAA for Warner Robins High School last year
while earning Honorable Mention All-Middle Georgia.

"Tiandra will definitely be one of our defensive stoppers,"
Britsky noted. "Although she can score, we will look for her
to put the pressure on other teams with her quickness and court
sense. If she develops like we think she will, you can look
to see her defending some of the best offensive players in the
league."

5-foot-7 guard Sylvia Elkins, from Heritage High School in
Conyers (Ga.), was a 2007 Wendy's High School Heisman recipient and
an honorable mention All-Area 2006-2007. Her GPA ranked sixth
out of a class of 359.

"Sylvia is a ball of exciting potential to me," Britsky
said. "She can play the point, the two or the three.
She is a great athlete and I think she will become one of the
better players in this program. Her desire to play basketball
at a high level and her love of the game is contagious."

"Keep you eye on this young lady," Britsky added. "She has
the potential to become something special early in her career."